Journey Through Twin Peaks, A 4-Hour Video Essay Exploring The Series, The Film & More

Twin Peaks is many things: a wacky, charming portrait of a small town, an alluring yet disturbing murder mystery, a spooky tale of supernatural forces, a deeply moving tragedy, and a profound spiritual and psychological exploration. Above all, it is a feeling, a mood, an atmosphere, difficult to sum up in words. I created my video series Journey Through Twin Peaks to explore this wonderful and strange world, discovering how the magic works without losing it. As in any good mystery, we must begin by investigating the who, what, where, when and most importantly, WHY of Journey Through Twin Peaks…

Who?

As the Man From Another Place would say, “Do you know who I am?” My name is Joel Bocko and I – like you – am a Twin Peaks fan as well as a movie blogger and video essayist (lately you can see my work on Fandor though I also have my own personal channel. Last year these areas of interest came together as I fell under the spell of the Twin Peaks for the first time in years. After months spent researching the show, interviewing Twin Peaks experts like Brad Dukes and John Thorne, and reviewing every single David Lynch movie, it seemed time to move onto other interests. And yet… I couldn’t (I’ll bet you know the feeling). Something was tugging at my sleeve, whispering in my ear, calling me from the dark woods. I realized my spell in Twin Peaks was only beginning…

Journey Through Twin Peaks, chapter 27: “Opening the Door”

What?

The result was Journey Through Peaks, a 4-part, 4-hour, 28-chapter video series, part documentary, part tribute, part critique. It explores the narrative of the series and film in chronological order from pilot to feature film, with detours to address particular subjects, including Cooper, Laura, the ensemble, and the distinctive series mythology. Every chapter opens and closes with a montage scored to a different Julee Cruise song from the Twin Peaks period (“Floating” and “I Remember,” for example) and the series begins and ends with the whispered “Judy” (we’re not gonna talk about her). Kevin B. Lee (“the godfather of the video essay” according to Roger Ebert) selected it as one of the 25 best video essays of 2014, and Brad Dukes (author of Reflections: An Oral History of Twin Peaks) called the Mythology chapter “a very crucial look at Theosophy’s role in Twin Peaks.” The videos have also been acclaimed as “the loving criticism the series deserves” and “the awesomest channel on YouTube“.

Journey Through Twin Peaks, chapter 17: “The Twin Peaks Mythology”

Where?

Journey Through Twin Peaks is on YouTube and Vimeo in different formats. YouTube presents the series in easily digestible 5-15 minute chapters, while Vimeo retains the 4-part structure, with each part ranging from half an hour to an hour and a half, for those who want to bite into the series in bigger chunks. Sharing these videos with fans was an adventure in itself: at various points, they were removed from YouTube and I had to state my case until they were approved and restored (international viewers may still have trouble viewing certain chapters on YouTube, but the whole series is universally accessible on Vimeo). I have also provided more Twin Peaks content on my blog.

Journey Through Twin Peaks, chapter 14: “The Spirit of Twin Peaks”

When?

Believe it or not, the first videos were posted exactly one day before David Lynch and Mark Frost tweeted “That gum you like is going to come back in style!” (“When two separate events occur pertaining to the same object of inquiry…”) Beginning Journey Through Twin Peaks, I thought the story had finished; my goal was to explore the cohesion of the two seasons and the film. By the time I concluded the series, four months later, it was clear that we hadn’t seen the last of Twin Peaks. This makes it all the more important to take stock of what we’ve got, in preparation for wherever we go next. When the series returns, I plan to create a Part 5, and maybe a Part 6 too.

Journey Through Twin Peaks, chapter 15: “Cooper’s Story”

Why?

At the heart of Journey Through Twin Peaks are three questions about one of the most misunderstood TV shows of all time.

“Is David Lynch the primary creative force behind Twin Peaks?”

Since 1990, Twin Peaks has been celebrated as David Lynch’s vision, with Mark Frost relegated to the sidelines. Yet in fact, Frost played a crucial role in the show’s development, not only managing it day-to-day but keeping the story moving with developments that inspired some of Lynch’s best work. Journey Through Twin Peaks examines what Frost brought to this partnership, especially his interest in Theosophy and desire to explore Cooper’s dark side.

“Does Twin Peaks ‘have nothing at all in its pretty little head except the desire to please?'”

New York Magazine asked this question early in the first season. Ever since, Twin Peaks has been stuck with its reputation as wacky postmodern entertainment. When critics turned against the show, they accused it of playing a joke on them. Even during its recent comeback, media commemorations focus entirely on the playfulness, ignoring the show’s emotional insight, treatment of serious subjects, and the dramatic spiritual stakes faced by its characters. Without ignoring the pleasures of coffee, pie, and donuts, Journey Through Twin Peaks treats the show as a work of art offering profound insights.

“Does Twin Peaks really care who killed Laura Palmer?”

Another myth about Twin Peaks is that Laura was simply what Alfred Hitchcock would call a “MacGuffin,” a plot device meant to lure us into this world. After all, Lynch and Frost regret solving her mystery, and many commentators on the series have argued that Laura herself is not so important. But whatever the creators’ original intentions, Twin Peaks ultimately treats Laura’s tragedy as the very centerpiece of the series, the key to its characters, mood, and strange symbols. The first Twin Peaks cycle ends with the film Fire Walk With Me, converting Laura’s death from the inciting incident of the series into the spiritual climax of the saga. Journey Through Twin Peaks reveals how crucial Laura’s story was to the series as a whole and presents the film in its proper place as a masterful conclusion to this tale. The best compliments I have received so far are from viewers who did not care for the movie but felt that I gave them a new perspective on it.

Journey Through Twin Peaks, chapter 27: “Opening the Door”

How?

How do Lynch’s and Frost’s visions of Cooper differ? How does Twin Peaks incorporate occult influences to set up its spiritual struggle? How does Fire Walk With Me reinvent Laura Palmer, tragic victim, as Laura Palmer, heroine of Twin Peaks? How do I incorporate the Twin Peaks books, the Wrapped in Plastic “Cooper’s dream” theory, the European version of the pilot, The Missing Pieces, script-to-screen changes, David Lynch’s other films, parallels with Vertigo and Laura, and the abandoned Lynch/Frost screenplay about Marilyn Monroe? For the answers to these and other questions, you will have to watch the videos themselves!

You can start watching below or check out the full directory featuring every chapter with pictures and descriptions (my favorite, and the one to jump to if you don’t think you’ll watch them all, is the climactic chapter 25: “She Would Die for Love”).

Hopefully, this gives you all something to explore and enjoy until that gum finally comes back in style. See you then!

Thanks! I will probably wait until the Showtime series is over to do more chapters (if nothing else, because of pressing time) but either then or beforehand I do plan to address The Secret History in video form…

I am watching it now. You’ve done a great job, Mr. Bocko. Thank you for being willing to respond to comments. I look forward to your incorporation of the Secret History (especially the sections on Theosophy) into this series.

This I should outstanding. Most such ventures are slow and sel-indulgent (obnoxious if not annonimous!). But this is painstakingly produced, brilliantly researched, expanded upon, edited anc delivered. Thank you for making it. A must watch before the new series. The ultimate commentary and refresher.

I can’t recommend Journey Through Twin Peaks enough! This man has done an amazing job and an incredible amount of research went into what we get to see. I would even go as far to say that even at over 4 hours it’s fairly easy to digest, even for someone new to the series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 🙂